THE TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF LYNDON JOHNSON The White House Years

Califano's fascinating peek behind the screen at LBJ's presidency is filled with delicious detail about one of the most controversial political figures of the last century. Narrator Norman Dietz uses clear diction and a measured pace to deliver a perfectly adequate rendering of the text, but his presentation fails to capture Johnson's famously outsized personality and energy. Along with insights into LBJ's humanitarianism and legendary political mastery, the listener is also treated to many crude anecdotes and incidents that were considered colorful in the '60s but are decidedly cringe-worthy in today's more politically correct atmosphere. Despite a lackluster narration, this is a worthwhile listen with broad audience appeal, especially given today's social changes and political climate. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2015]